Shuttleless loom



Dec. 22 1959 Filed July 1, 1958 A- SCHIAPPA SHUTTLELESS LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR. IO SCH IAPPA ATTORN EY A. SCHIAPPA 2,918,093

SHUTTLELESS LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1959 Filed July 1, 1958 Dec. 22, 1959 A. SCHIAPPA SHUTTLELESS LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 1, 1958 R m m w ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 A. SC HIAPPA SHUTTLELESS LOOM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1, 1958 ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 A. SCHIAPPA 2,918,093

SHUTTLELESS LOOM Filed July 1, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6' INVENTOR.

' ANTONIO SCHIAPPA JAMM W 2k A'LTORNEY tes SHUTTLELESS LOOM Application July 1, 1958, Serial No. 746,044

8 Claims. (Cl. 139-124) This invention relates to shuttleless looms of the kind wherein a thread laying member other than a shuttle is passed to and fro through the warp shed to lay loops of weft threads therein.

This invention also includes shuttleless looms provided with a selvedge forming device such as are used in the manufacture of ribbons, tapes, braids and like narrow webs of fabric.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved weft laying device and in selvedge looms to ensure that a uniformselvedge is formed on the fabric.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shuttleless loom with an improved drive means for the weft laying member and for the selvedge forming member.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a shuttleless loom with means for forming a selvedge at the side of the fabric.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a knitting needle and arrange for it to be operated to engage and interknit the weft loops as they are laid in the shed to form a selvedge.

And still a further object of the invention is to provide a fixed thread guide pin for assisting in directing the thread into engagement with the needle.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially noiseless shuttleless loom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide common drive members for a plurality of weft laying devices and selvedge forming devices. The common drive members being driven in timed relation from a single driving mechanism.

Other objects of the present invention will be pointed out in part and become apparent in part in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures;

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of thenew and improved shuttleless loom showing the new weft laying mechanism, the new selvedge forming mechanism and the new driving mechanism for the new Weft laying and selvedge forming mechanisms.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one of the weaving units, showing the weft laying needle in the position it assumes upon completing a stroke and at the instant of starting a new traverse.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1 with the laymotion advanced to beaten up position. I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of one of the weaving units.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the weft laying needle presenting the weft to the knitting needle in the formation of the selvedge.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of the new and improved drive mechanism for the new weft laying and selvedge forming mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the new and improved drive mechanism for the new weft laying and selvedge forming mechanism.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the Warp and weft threads drawn to a larger scale and showing the formation of the knitted selvedge.

Figure 9is a fragmentary plan view of one unit in a plurality of units of a modified form of weft laying mech anism.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of Figure 9 as seen from below.

Figure 11 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 1111 of Figure 7.

The present invention is contemplated to comprise a narrow fabric loom having between 18 and 72 weaving units. A common drive mechanism is provided to effect weaving and selvedge forming at each weaving unit. Each weaving unit consists of a breast block 11 adapted to be secured to the loom frame 12 as by screws 13. The warp threads 14 are passed through heddles 15, 15A, 15B, housed in harnesses 16, 16A, 16B, operated to form a shed 17 in any usual manner. It is thought unnecessary to illustrate the shed forming mechanism.

The; weft thread 20 is laid through the shed 17 by a weft laying needle 21 having an eye 22 for the thread. The web 23 thus woven passes over breast block 11, to the usual take up roll (not shown).

For operating the weft laying needle 21, a bar 24 is adjustably secured to a block 25 which is fixed to a reciprocating rod 26. Needle 21 is adjustably secured in bar 24-. Reciprocating rod 26 lies substantially parailel to weft laying needle 21 and is at right angles to bar 24. Bearing blocks 27 secured to, the loom frame 12 are provided with anti-friction guide rollers 28, 29 which support and guide reciprocating rod 26. Bearing blocks 27 are provided with bearings 31, 32 which support rocker arm shaft 30. A needle holder 33 provided with a guide gro-ove is fixed to breast block 11 as by means of screws 35. A latch knitting needle 36 is slidably mounted in the guide groove. A rocker arm 37 provided with an elongated slot 38 is fixed to rocker arm shaft 38. Latch knitting needle 36 is slidably connectedto rocker arm 37 through a pin 40 slidably fixed in elongated slot 38.

The drive mechanism for weft laying needle 21 and selvedge forming latch knitting needle 36 consists of a shaft 41 rotatively mounted in lower bearing 42 and upper bearing 43 which are secured to a frame 44 attached to and forming part of loom frame 12. Two helical pinion gears 45, 46 are fixed to shaft 41. An arm 47 provided with a T shaped track 48 is fixed to shaft 41. A stub shaft 50 is rotatively mounted in bearing 51 secured to frame 44. A sprocket 52 and a helical gear 53 are fixed to stub shaft 50 with helical gear 53 engaging helical pinion gear 45.

The conventional shuttle motion crown gear 54 is provided on drive shaft 55. A sprocket 56 is fixed to drive shaft 55. A chain 57 engages sprockets 56 and 52 to drive or rotate sprocket 52 from the usual loom motor (not shown) attached to drive shaft 55. An idler sprocket wheel 58 rotatively mounted in the loom frame may be provided to take up the slack in sprocket chain 57.

A bearing 60 fixed to frame 44 rotatively supports a shaft 61 having an arm 62, provided with a T-shaped track 63, secured on one end. A helical gear 6 ifixed to shaft 61 engages helical pinion gear 46 to be driven thereby. A bearing 65 fixed to frame 44 rotatively supports a shaft 66. Arms 67, 68 are fixed to shaft 66.

A turnbuckle 70 pivotally mounted at 71 to reciprocating rod 26 is slidably mounted in track 63. Rocker shaft 30 is provided with an arm 72 having an elongated slot 73. A turnbuckle 74 is pivotally connected to arm 68 at 75 and to arm 72 at 76 through elongated slot 73. A turnbuckle 77 is pivotally mounted to arm 67 at 78 and is slidably connected to track 48.

In operation, the rotation of drive shaft 55 will rotate shaft 41 through sprockets 56, 52, stub shaft 50, he1ical gear 53 and helical pinion gear 45. Rotating shaft 41 through helical pinion gear 46 engaging helical gear 64 will rotate shaft 61 and thereby rotate arm 62 so that reciprocating rod 26 will be moved to and fro through the crank motion of turnbuckle 70 slidably mounted in track 63. Y

Rotating shaft 41 carrying and thereby rotating arm 47 will rock shaft 66 to and fro through .the crank motion of turnbuckle 7 slidably mounted in track 48 and pivotally connected to 8111167. Arm 68 connected to shaft 61 will rock to and fro and through turnbuckle 74 connection and arm 72 will rock rocker arm shaft 30; 7

It will be noted that rocker arm shaft 30 and reciprocating rod 26 will rock and reciprocate, respectively, in timed relation to each other and in timed relation to shuttle motion crown gear 54. Thus the weaving operation to be performed at the various weaving units is timed through helical pinion gear 46 and helical gear 64 under control of the shuttle motion crown gear 54. a

The lay for the weaving operation is also in timed relation to the other weaving motions. The lay mechanism is old, well known in the art and fragmentarily illustrated in Figure 6. The lay motion pinion 80 rotatively mounted upon shaft 81 is in operative engagement. with shuttle motion crown gear 54. The lay motion crank 82, the lay saw 83, the lay 84 and the reeds 85 are operatively connected to shaft 81 and lay motion pinion 81).

Informing the selvedge the needle 36 is moved forward as the weft loops are laid by the weft laying needle 21. A thread guide may or may not be provided but when it is used it meets the weft thread of eachloop and ensures that the thread is guided into the needle 36 hook. As the weft laying needle 21 moves out of the shed 17 the needle 36 recedes carrying the last laid weft loop with it and draws it through a loop formed by the last preceding pair of weft threads laid during the last preceding pick of the loom as indicated in Figure 8. Thus a selvedge of interknitted weft threads is formed. This method of forming the knitted selvedge is already known and further description thereof is thought to be unnecessary. While the knitting needle 36 used is preferably of the latch type, a bearded needle, or needle of any suitable type may be used as will be understood; Further, a separate selvedge thread may bedrawn from a bobbin or the like and knitted into the weft loops in known manner if desired. The selvedge forming mechanism may be employed at one or both sides of the loom. In the latter case two thread laying members such as weft laying needle 21 will be provided one on each side of the shed. The reed 85 may be provided on the loom frame to. assist in beating up the weft threads. 7

Referring to Figures 9 and wherein is illustrated a modified form of weft laying needle 21A having an eye 22A for the thread. A rocker arm 100 is pivotally mounted at 101 at a breast block 11A secured to the loom frame 12 as by screws 13A. The pivotal mounting at 101 may be provided with a grease fitting as illustrated. Weft laying needle 21A arcuate or curved in shape is fixed to and forms part of rockerarrn 100 which provides a rocking circular motion to needle 21A.

A bracket 102 having a dependingarm 103' is fixed to reciprocating rod 26 as by means of rivets 104. A turnbuckle 105 is pivotally connected to depending arm 103 by means of a nut and bolt connection 106 on one end and by means of a nut 107 fastened to a threaded projection 108 on the other end. Threaded projection 108 is integrally formed in rocker arm 100.

The to and fro reciprocating movement of reciproeating rod 26 pivotally rocks rocker arm 100 upon pivotal mounting 101 through turnbuckle 105 thereby imparting a rocking circular motion to weft laying needle 21A which passes back and forth across shed 17 in a weft laying operation. 1 Breast plate 11A is provided with the needle holder 3 and latch knitting needle 36 as previously described. A

thread guide 110 is fixed to needle holder 33 by means of screws 111. For the purpose as previously described.

Having shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a shuttleless loom and in combination, a breast block, a needle holder having a guide groove secured to said breast block, a needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, means to connect said needle to said rocker arm through said elongated slot, a weft laying needle, means to secure said weft laying needle to said reciprocating rod, a common driving member, means connecting said common driving member to said rocker arm shaft and to said reciprocating rod whereby operation of said driving member rocks said rocker arm to and fro and said needle is slidably moved back and forth in said guide groove, said. reciprocating rod is moved to and fro in timed relation to said rocker arm, said reciprocating rod carrying said weft laying needle and the weft thread through the shed in a predetermined straight path perpendicular to said needle to lay the weft thread in the shed and to engage said needle to form a selvedge in the fabric being woven.

2. A shuttleless loom having a frame and a main drive shaft rotatively mounted in said frames, a breast block secured to said frame, a needle holder having a guide groove secured to said breast block, a needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a reciproeating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm provided with an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, means to connect said needle to said elongated slot, a weft laying needle, means to secure said weft laying needle to said reciprocating rod, a shaft provided with an upper and a lower helical pinion gear rotatively mounted in said frame, a stub shaft provided with a sprocket wheel and a helical gear, rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear in operative engagement with said lower helical pinion gear, a second shaft provided with a helical gear and an arm having a track rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear in operative engagement with said upper helical pinion gear, a tierod pivotally mounted to said reciprocating rod on one end and slidably mounted in said track on the other end, 'a second arm having a track fixed to said first mentioned shaft, a third shaft rotatively mounted in said frame, a'third arm fixed to said third shaft, a second tie rod pivotally connected on one end to said third arm and slidably mounted in said last mentioned track on the otherend, a fourth arm fixed to said third shaft, a fifth arm having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, a third tie rod pivotally connected to said fourth arm on one end and slidably connected to said fifth arm through said elongated slot on the other end, a sprocket wheel fixed to said main drive shaft, a chain connecting said last mentioned sprocket wheel to said first mentioned i breast block, a needle slidably mounted in said guide g r opve, a bearing block, a' reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm provided with an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, means to connect said needle to said elongated slot, a weft laying needle, means to secure said weft laying needle to said reciprocating rod, a shaft provided with an upper and a lower helical pinion gear, rotatively mounted in said frame, a stub shaft provided with a sprocket wheel and a helical gear, rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear in operative engagement with said lower helical pinion gear, a second shaft provided with a helical gear and an arm having a track rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear in operative engagement with said upper helical pinion gear, a tie rod pivotally mounted to said reciprocating rod on one end and slidably mounted in said track on the other end, a second arm having a track fixed to said first mentioned shaft, a third shaft rotatively mounted in said frame, a third arm fixed to said third shaft, a second tie rod pivotally connected on one end to said third arm and slidably mounted in said last mentioned track on the other end, a fourth arm fixed to said third shaft, a fifth arm having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, a third tie rod pivotally connected to said fourth arm on one end and slidably connected to said fifth arm through said elongated slot on the other end, a sprocket wheel fixed to said main drive shaft, a chain connecting said last mentioned sprocket wheel to said first mentioned sprocket wheel whereby rotation of said main drive shaft reciprocates said reciprocating rod to and fro and in timed relation rocks said rocker arm shaft back and forth to move said weft laying needle and the weft thread through the shed in timed relation to the movement of said lay to place the weft thread in engagement with said needle to form a selvedge and weave a fabric.

4. A shuttleless loom having a frame and a main drive shaft rotatively mounted in said frame, a breast block secured to said frame, a needle holder having a guide groove secured to said breast block, a needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm provided with an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, means to connect said needle to said elongated slot, a Weft laying needle, means to secure said weft laying needle to said reciprocating rod, a shaft, crank means connected to said shaft and to said rocker arm shaft to rock said rocker arm shaft back and forth, a second crank means under operative control of said first crank and connected to said reciprocating rod to slide said reciprocating rod to and fro to move said weft laying needle through the shed in timed relation to the opening and closing of the shed and the movement of the lay and to present the weft thread to the selvedge needle, and drive means to connect said shaft to said main drive shaft to rotate said shaft in timed relation to the rotation of said main drive shaft.

5. In a shuttleless loom and in combination, a plurality of weaving units, each weaving unit consisting of a breast block, a needle holder, having a guide groove, secured to said breast block, a needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm, having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, a pin slidably mounted in said elongated slot and fixed to said needle to impart sliding movement to said needle through the to and fro movement of said rocker arm, a bar, a weft laying needle fixed to said bar, a block fixed to said reciprocating rod, said bar fixed to said block, means to reciprocate said reciprocating rod and means to rock said rocker arm shaft in timed relation from a common driving member, so that on operation of the driving member the free end of the weft laying needle carrying the weft thread is moved to and fro through the shed in a predetermined straight path perpendicular to said needle to lay the weft thread in the shed and to engage said needle to form a selvedge in the fabric being woven.

6. In a shuttleless loom and in combination, a plurality of Weaving units, each weaving unit consisting of a breast block, a needle holder, having a guide groove, secured to said breast block, a first needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing block, a rocker arm, having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft means to slidably connect said first needle to said elongated slot to impart sliding movement to said first needle through the to and fro movement of said rocker arm a second rocker arm pivotally mounted to said breast block, a curved shape Weft laying needle fixed to said second rocker arm, means to pivotally connect said second rocker arm to said reciprocating rod to rock said curved shaped weft laying needle in timed relation with said first needle, a common driving member for both said reciprocating rod and said rocker arm shaft.

7. In a shuttleless loom and in combination, a plurality of weaving units, each weaving unit consisting of a breast block, a needle holder, having a guide groove, secured to said breast block, a first needle slidably mounted in said guide groove, a bearing block, a rocker arm, having an elongated slot, means to slidably connect said first needle to said elongated slot, a second rocker arm pivotally mounted to said breast block, a curved shape weft laying needle fixed to said second rocker arm, a rocker arm shaft rotatively mounted in said bearing blocks, the rocker arm of each unit connected to said rocker arm shaft, a reciprocating rod slidably mounted in said bearing blocks, means to pivotally connect each of the second rocker arms to said reciprocating rod, and a common drive means to rock said rocker arm to and fro in timed relation to the reciprocating movement of said reciprocating rod whereby the free end of the curved shaped weft laying needle carrying the weft thread is moved to and fro through the shed to lay the weft thread in the shed with the thread engaging said first needle to form a selvedge in the fabric being woven.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 having the further characteristics of: said common drive means including a shaft provided with an upper and a lower helical pinion gear, rotatively mounted in said frame, a stub shaft provided with a sprocket wheel and a helical gear, rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear in operative engagement with said lower helical pinion gear, a second shaft provided with a helical gear and an arm having a track rotatively mounted in said frame, said helical gear being in operative engagement with said upper helical pinion gear, a tie rod pivotally mounted to said reciprocating rod on one end and slidably mounted in said track on the other end, a second arm having a track fixed to said first mentioned shaft, a third shaft rotatively mounted in said frame, a third arm fixed to said third shaft, a second tie rod pivotally connected on one end to said third arm and slidably mounted in said last mentioned track on the other end, a fourth arm fixed to said third shaft, a fifth arm having an elongated slot, fixed to said rocker arm shaft, a third tie rod pivotally connected to said fourth arm on one end and slidably connected to said fifth arm through said elongated slot on the other end, a sprocket wheel fixed to said main drive shaft, a chain connecting said last mentioned sprocket wheel to said first mentioned sprocket wheel whereby rotation of said main drive shaft reciprocates said reciprocating rod to and fro and in timed relation rocks said rocker arm shaft back and forth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

